Track grading method and arrangement



Aug. 8, 1967 F. PLASSER ETAL TRACK GRADING METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1966 Aeegr Aug. 8. 1967 nhusssn ETAL 3,334

TRACK GRADING METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16.1966 U I l m W v A 4 T v. 1

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United States Patent 3,334,593 TRACK GRADING METHOD AND ARRANGEMENTFranz Plasser and Josef Theurer, both of Johannesgasse 3, Vienna I,Austria Filed June 16, 1966, Ser. No. 558,092 Claims priority,application Austria, June 18, 1965,

Claims. (Cl. 104-7) The present invention relates to improvements ingrading a track in relation to a reference line which is establishedfrom a previously graded track section to a track section to be graded,and which extends with a front end to a front station, this referenceline being adjustable in relation to a longer control reference lineextending with a front end to a stationary observation station remotefrom the front station.

As is known, track grading by means of two reference lines of differentlength produces a very smooth track grade over long distances, andprevents relative short successive track sections graded in relation tothe short reference line to abut at angles. This is avoided by adjusting the height of the front end of the shorter reference line inrelation to a control line which is much longer and whose front end liesin a track section to be corrected and which is remote from the frontstation of the shorter reference line, thus adjusting the position ofthe shorter reference line in relation to a long track section andproducing smooth abutments of adjacent track sections being graded inrelation to the shorter reference line.

Conventionally, the longer control line is constituted by a sight lineestablished from a telescope at the stationary observation stationtowards a point, such as a horizontal marker on a spot board, fixed inrelation to the previously graded track section on which the wheels ofthe track grading and tamping machine stand. A front bogie runs ahead ofthe machine and carries the front station of the shorter reference line,and the vertical distance of the front station from the track rail isconstantly controlled and adjusted by an operator at the observationstation according to the present invention, while the front bogie movestowards the observation station. Thus, the front end of the shorterreference line may be constantly adjusted in height if the front bogietravels over a low or high point of the track section to be graded.

Tracking grading systems of this general type make use of high points inthe track section to be graded, where the front bogie is stationed sothat the track grading machine 'may grade the track while advancing froma previously graded track section to this high point over the tracksection to be graded. For reasons of economy and also to assure acontinuously smooth grade over long distances, it is desirable for thesetrack sections to be of substantially equal length. However, it happensoccasionally that a high point in the track section .to be graded isreached by the front bogie relatively close to the track gradingmachine. At such a false high point, a deviation from the grade will beencountered and it is one of the objects of the present invention toenable an operator at the stationary observation station to becomeinstantly aware of such a false high point, and to adjust the height ofthe front end of the shorter reference line at such a point so that,over a long track section, the grade will become quite smooth.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the presentinvention will become more apparent in the following detaileddescription of one preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing wherein 3,334,593 Patented Aug. 8, 1967 FIG. 1 is aside view of a track grading arrangement according to this inventon;

FIG. 2 is a top view of this arrangement, as indicated by arrow II inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the operation of this arrangement in grading a tracksection;

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the track grading and tampingmachine used in the arrangement of the invention, on an enlarged scale;and

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the front bogie used in thisarrangement, on the same scale.

Referring now to the drawing and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a generallyconventional mobile track grading and tamping machine N is shownarranged for movement on track G over a track section to be graded. Thetrack tamping and grading machine includes a frame 1 mounted on wheels 2running on a previously graded track section immediately adjacent thetrack section to be graded. As is well know, such a machine includespairs of recipro eating and vertically movable tamping tools 4, whichfix the track in the graded position after it has been lifted to thedesired grade by a track lifting mechanism 5 mounted on the machineframe. The lifting stroke is determined by a stop 6 which is mounted ata fixed distance from each track rail and cooperates with a referenceline 7 spaced from each track rail by distance A.

The reference lines may be constituted in a preferred embodiment by abeam of electromagnetic waves, such as a light ray, and in a manner wellknown per se, the lifting of the track by hydraulically operatedmechanism 5 may be discontinued when the stop 6 interrupts the lightray.

Each reference beam 7 runs from a rear station 8, which is mounted atfixed distance A above the previous ly graded track section, to a frontstation 9 mounted on the front bogie. If a beam is used as the referenceline, either one of the stations may be constituted by a beam senderwhile the other station is a beam receiver. All of the above structuresand their operations being well known, a further description thereof isnot required for those skilled in the art to enable them to understandthe same.

As appears most clearly from FIGS. 4 and 5, the front stations 9 of thereference lines 7 are mounted on the front bogie for vertical movementthereon, scales 9' being hung from each station to make it possible toread the vertical position of the stations above the track. A spot board10 is arranged at a fixed distance a from each stop 6, the spot boardsbeing preferably mounted on a carrier arm extending downwardly from eachstop. Each spot board may be sub-divided by a horizontal line into awhite and a black half, and the dividing line of the spot boards formsthe back end of a second reference line which is much longer than thelines 7. The front end of the longer reference line 11 is constituted bya surveying instrument, such as a telescope 12, which is verticallyadjustably mounted on a portable or mobile support 13.

The front stations 9 of the shorter reference lines 7 are mounted on acarrier 20 which is supported for vertical movement in relation to bogie14 by means of a vertical rod 20 which glides in guide 20". A scale 15is provided on the vertical rod in fixed spatial relationship to thefront stations 9, and the rod forms part of a hydraulic motor 21 whichmay be operated by remote control by an operator at the observationstation 12, 13 to raise or lower the front stations of shorter referencelines 7. The front bogie 14 may be self-propelled, for instance by meansof a motor which may be operated by remote control.

For purposes of making the arrangement useful for grading superelevatedtrack curve sections, each front station 9 is individually verticallymovable on the carrier 20 by means of hand wheels 18, their positionbeing determinable by reading scales 19 associated with each frontstation. In this way, one rail may be lifted higher than the other railof the track.

A fixed marker 15' is mounted on the front bogie in association withvertically movable scale 15. Fixed marker 15 has a contact 22 andmovable scale 15 has a contact 22, the two contacts forming a switch inan actuating circuit operating a signal. The signal may be audible orvisible, for instance, the preferred signal being a warning lamp 17which lights up when the two contacts engage, i.e. when the zero markerscale 15 is below marker 15', which indicates the distance of the frontstations of shorter reference lines 7 from the track. In other words, ifthe carrier 20 with the front ends of the reference lines 7, i.e.stations 9, is lowered until the zero-marker of the scale 15 is lowerthan the marker 15, the switch 22, 22' closes the actuating circuit,lamp 17 lights up and an operator at telescope 12 is advised that thefront bogie stands on a high point on track section G in relation to aplane E defined by the previously graded track section underneath thewheels of tamping and grading machine N and the track point on which theoperator at the surveying instrument 12 stands (see FIG. 3).

The operation of the grading arrangement will be partly obvious from theabove description and will hereinafter be summarized for'a more completeunderstanding:

After the grading operation at one track section determined by thelength of the shorter reference line 7 has been terminated, and it isdesired to grade an adjacent track section between the previously gradedsection and the remotely placed surveying instrument 12, the operator atthe surveying instrument moves self-propelled front bogie 14 by remotecontrol slowly into the adjacent track section to be graded. While hemoves the bogie, he carefully watches through the telescope that thepredetermined markers on pendulum scales 9' are in constant horizontalalignment with the horizontal sub-dividing line of the associated spotboards 10 so that the front stations 9 properly position the shorterreference lines 7. Since the track section over which the front bogie ismoved is ungraded, this requires a constant control and adjustment ofvertically movable carrier 20 by means of remote-controlled hydraulicmotor 21. As soon as this constant vertical movement of the carrier 241with its scale causes the zero marker of the scale to be positionedbelow the marker 15', warning lamp 17 lights up, the operator being thusinformed of a high point of the track section even if he is fullyoccupied with watching the spot board 11 through telescope 12. Anaudible signal may have the same effect.

As soon as the front bogie has reached such a high point, the operatorwill immediately stop the bogie there. If this point is relatively closeto the machine N, i.e. close to the previously graded track section, itmust be considered a false high point. In this case, it is notrecommended to adjust the longer reference line 11 to this false highpoint because this would require an exaggerated vertical adjustment ofthe longer reference line. Rather, it will be advisable in this case toraise the carrier 20 sufficiently on the front bogie to bring the marker15 into alignment with the zero marker of movable scale 15. The shorttrack section between the previously graded section and the false highpoint is then graded in relation to the thus corrected shorter referencelines 7.

On the other hand, if the high point indicated to the operator by thewarning signal on the front bogie is relatively far removed from themachine N, the front end of the longer reference line 11, i.e. thetelescope 12, may be vertically moved on support 13 until the telescope,the zero markers of the scales 9' and the horizontal dividing lines ofspot boards 10 are in alignment when the carrier 1 20 with the frontstations 9 of the shorter reference lines 7 has been vertically adjustedso that the marker 15 and the zero marker of scale 15 are in alignmentand the latter zero marker is not below marker 15.

The vertical position of telescope 12 in relation to track G may varywithin predetermined limits. The vertical distance I] of the telescopefrom the track should be about b=A-a but, depending on local variationsin the position of the surveying station in the ungraded track section,this distance may vary within practical limits.

Determination as to whether a high point in an ungraded track section isa false point and/ or what specific alignment operations to carry out iswithin the choice of the operator who will be guided by experience intrack maintenance operations of this type and the local necessities. Theimportant feature of the present invention resides in enabling theoperator to be instantly warned of a high point so that he may take theproper steps. Obviously, the arrangement is also operable with systemsusing a single reference over one track rail.

Many modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention asdefined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A method of grading a track rail in relation to a reference lineextending vertically above the track rail, comprising the steps of (1)establishing a first reference line from a previously graded tracksection to a track section to be graded and extending with a front endto a front station,

(2) establishing a second and longer reference line in said tracksection to be graded and extending with a front end to a stationaryobservation station remote from said front station,

( 3) moving the front station with the front end of the first referenceline towards the stationary observation station,

(a) the previously graded track section and the observation stationdetermining a plane, and

(4) vertically moving at least one of said front ends of the referencelines vertically upwardly when the front station has reached a highpoint in said track section to be graded, which is above said plane.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vertical distance of the frontstation from the track rail is constantly controlled and adjusted independence of the vertical distance of the front end of the longerreference line at the observation station while the front station ismoved towards the observation station.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the longer reference line is a sightline established from the observation station towards a point fixed inrelation to the previously grade track section, and the verticaldistance of the front station is constantly controlled and adjusted independence of the sight line by an operator at the observation station.

4. A track-grading arrangement for grading a track rail, comprising (1)a track grading machine with wheels movable on a previously graded tracksection,

(2) a front bogie movable on an adjacent track section to be graded,

(3) a first reference line extending from the track grading machine to afront station on the front bogie,

(4) a second and longer reference line in said track section to begraded and extending with a front end to a stationary observationstation remote from the front station,

(a) the previously graded track section and the observation stationdetermining a plane, and

(5) a warning signaling device operative when the front station hasreached a high point in the track section to be graded, which is abovesaid plane.

5. The track grading arrangement of claim 4, further comprising meansfor vertically moving the front station on the front bogie, and thewarning signaling device is mounted on the front hogie.

6. The track grading arrangement of claim 5, wherein the vertical movingmeans includes a front station carrier vertically movably mounted on thefront bogie, a scale and an associated marker making the verticalposition of the front station carrier determinable, one of the scale andthe marker being movable with the carrier and the other one being fixedin relation to the front bogie.

7. The track grading arrangement of claim 6, further comprising contactsconnected to the scale and to the marker respectively, and electricalactuating circuit for actuating the warning signaling device, and saidcontacts forming a switch in said circuit for closing the same, thecontacts being so positioned that the switch is closed when a zeromarker on the scale is below the said marker.

8. The track grading arrangement of claim 7, wherein the warningsignaling device is a lamp which lights up when the circuit is closed bysaid switch.

9. The track grading arrangement of claim 4, further comprising a fixedstop on the track grading machine arranged to cooperate with the firstreference line, a spot board in fixed spatial relationship to said stop,a horizontal marker on said spot board, and a telescope at saidstationary observation station, the second and longer reference linebeing constituted by a sight line extending from the telescope to thehorizontal marker on the spot board.

10. The track grading arrangement of claim 9, wherein the spot board ismounted on the track grading machine below the stop.

No references cited.

ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner. R. A. BERTSCH, Assistant Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF GRADING A TRACK RAIL IN REALTION TO A REFERENCE LINEEXTENDING VERTICALLY ABOVE THE TRACK RAIL, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF (1)ESTABLISHING A FIRST REFERENCE LINE FROM A PREVIOUSLY GRADED TRACKSECTION TO A TRACK SECTION TO BE GRADED AND EXTENDING WITH A FRONT ENDTO A FRONT STATION, (2) ESTABLISHING A SECOND AND LONGER REFERENCE LINEIN SAID TRACK SECTION TO BE GRADED AND EXTENDING WITH A FRONT END TO ASTATIONARY OBSERVATION STATION REMOTE FROM SAID FRONT STATION, (3)MOVING THE FRONT STATION WITH THE FRONT END OF THE FIRST REFERENCE LINETOWARDS THE STATIONARY OBSERVATION STATION, (A) THE PREVIOUSLY GRADEDTRACK SECTION AND THE OBSERVATION STATION DETERMINING A PLANE, AND (4)VERTICALLY MOVING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FRONT ENDS OF THE REFERENCE LINESVERTICALLY UPWARDLY WHEN THE FRONT STATION HAS REACHED A HIGH POINT INSAID TRACK SECTION TO BE GRADED, WHICH IS ABOVE SAID PLANE.